Skeleton-case



FIELI C. F. MEILINK.

SKELETON CASE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I6. 1914.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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CHARLES F. MEILINK, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

SKELETON" CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1 91 6..

Application filed November 16, 1914. Serial No. 872,292.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. MEILINK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Skeleton Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to housings and partition carrying structures.

This invention has utility when incorporated into sheet metal cases, especially of the so-called skeleton type, say for document receptacles, drawers, etc.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in a card index file drawer case; Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-1I, Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of the front end of side and bottom members to be assembled; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of a partition and its trimming member in position to be assembled with a housing member; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section through the case of Fig. 1, showing the partition mounting.

The case is shown as comprising the top member 1 having the annular flange 2 projecting toward the opposing or parallel bottom member 3 having the annular flange A projecting away from the member 1. Accordingly the flanges 2, 4:, project in a com mon direction away from the member 1, or are disposed one toward and the other away from the member 3.

Disposed between the members 1, 3, are the side members 5 having the flanges 6 abutting the member 1 and the flanges 7 engaging below the flanges 4:. These side member flanges act as stiffening means to give the skeleton case alinement and rigidity. The forward ends of the side members 5 have the offset or front face providing flanges 8 terminating in the inwardly projecting flanges 9 ofshorter length to leave at the lower end the projecting wing or tongue 10 on the flange 8 for interfitting with the notch or recess 11 in the bottom housing member 3.

The third side or back member 12 has the top member abutting stiffening flange 13 and similar side flanges 14 abutted by the side members 5.

Disposed in this case structure may be the vertical partition 15 having near the forward end of the case the top and bottom member abutting flanges 16, and the rear or back abutting flange 17. Horizontal partitions 18 are mounted between the side walls 5 and the partition 15 and have flanges 19 engaging said wall and partition members.

To give not only stiffness to the partitions, but to provide a symmetrical finish in keepmg with the housing or main frame, the forward edges of the partitions are embraced by U-shaped members 20, having the opposlng parallel extensions 21 between which the forward edges of: the partitions are engaged. To further stiffen the anchoring of these trimming members 20,.they may be provided with flanges 22 and extension or tongue 23 disposed to enter the recess 24 in line with the member 20 and so when united therewith with an electric spot welding 25 provide a sightly and rigid front for the skeleton case structure.

The double flanging of the members 1, 2, 5, along the lines of the longer series of spot weldings 25, stiffen these members against heating contortion in manufacture and so not only hold in alinement initially but while in use, thereby producing a dependable single wall structure without a frame for properly housing even long drawers with snug clearance with no danger of binding in operation. The resulting structure is of light weight, can be most economically produced, and is of such high class appearance as to fully meet the requirements under the. most exacting circumstances.

Nhat is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A housing comprising a pair of parallel members with flanges projecting away from the plane of one of the members, and side walls disposed within the flanges of one member and outside the flanges of the other member.

2. A housing comprising a pair of parallel members, the first of said members having flange means projecting toward the second member, the second member having flange means projecting away from the first member, and side walls disposed within the flanges ofthe first member and outside the flanges of the second member.

3. A housing having a partition therein, a face for an edge of said partition embodying a U-shaped member for receiving said partition edge, and means on the housing coacting with the member to maintain the member and partition in position.

4. A partition edge trimming embodying a U-shaped partition edge embracing member terminating in a tongue, a partition embraced by said member, and a housing for the partition having a recess for the tongue.

5. A partition edge trimming embodying a partition edge embracing member providing a flange on one side of the partition.

6. A housing embodying first and second sheet metal side forming members, each of said members having an integral flange forming a corner, said corners being disposed to place a flange of one member against a portion of the other member extending away from the flange, there being member uniting means at spaced intervals between the flange of the first member and the second member side for maintaining the members assembled, the flange of the second member and the-side of the first member stiffening the united flange and side against buckling between the uniting means and being continuous therebetween.

7. A housing embodying a pair of sheet metal side forming members, each of said members having a straight integral flange forming a corner, said corners nesting With each other to have the flanges extend away from each other, one of said flanges being united at spaced intervals to the other member for maintaining the members assembled, said flanges and sides being continuous between the uniting intervals for stiflening against buckling.

In witness whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES F. MEILINK.

WVitnesses:

GEO. KIRK, GLADYs JAMEsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

